Last Thursday I attended my first burning of Zozobra – Old Man Gloom. The burning of the 50 foot effigy is the opening celebration to the Fiestas de Santa Fe. There there were bands, mariachis, lots of food, fireworks, dance and fire. Lots of fire. Read more about Zozobra here. View more pics here.
Old Man Gloom waiting patiently for the festivities to begin.
A fire dancer walks among the crowd before the festivities begin.
Another fire dancer in the crowd.
The queen of the Fiesta de Santa Fe for 2011.
A young girl watches as the queen of the Fiesta approaches.
A smaller version of Old Man Gloom can be seen among the crowd.
Fireworks illuminate Old Man Gloom just before he bursts into flames.
Old Man Gloom goes up in flames.
by Salvador Zapien